By: APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
Published: 22/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

Concern is mounting about the side-effects of general vaccines used to fight the type A (H1N1) flu virus in the past, casting doubt over industrial plans for mass production to contain a pandemic, Thai health experts say.

They did not mention the Russian live attenuated vaccine for which Thailand on Wednesday was given approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to start producing on a massive scale for the global market.

But they did say the side-effects of other vaccines could dash global hopes for preventative measures against H1N1.

At a forum on the impact of an outbreak on the economy and tourism, Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, president of the Influenza Strategic Planning Committee, said academics worldwide were discussing if vaccines could really help people in a flu pandemic.

In 1976, the US reported Guillain-Barre syndrome, a paralysing neuromuscular disorder, among people who were vaccinated during an H1N1 flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

“The side-effects of previous H1N1 flu vaccines have set back production ever since. The world may have to wait much longer for very effective vaccine against a flu pandemic,” Dr Tawee said.

Dr Tawee, a flu expert from the National Institute of Child Health, believed the rapid increase in H1N1 infections in Japan had to be discussed academically if virus mutation was involved.

The WHO estimates up to 2 billion doses of H1N1 vaccine could be produced every year, though the first batch would not be available for at least six months.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working on a seed stock for distribution to vaccine manufacturers worldwide.

Until the manufacturers get the seed stock, they will not know how many vaccine doses they can make or how long it will take to start production.

The WHO is also negotiating with producers at the World Health Assembly in Geneva to save some of their flu vaccines for poorer nations.

The number of confirmed swine flu infections in 41 countries stands at 11,034 while there have been 85 deaths, according to latest WHO figures. Confirmed infections in Thailand remain at two.

Amorn Leelarasami, a doctor from Siriraj Hospital’s department of medicine, meanwhile urged the Public Health Ministry to clearly explain the cause of death this week of a 65-year-old German tourist who had developed mild flu symptoms.

Negative results from a saliva test could not completely rule out H1N1 as the virus could have dissipated after her death or the saliva sample may not have been up to standard, he said.

“It’s necessary for the Public Health Ministry to clearly explain to the public the cause of her death based on a lung sample test,” he said.

Her husband tested negative for the H1N1 virus, the ministry said.

Deputy health permanent secretary Paijit Warachit said lab tests from Siriraj Hospital showed the husband had not caught either the A or B type of H1N1.

Tags | flu vaccine side effects, H1N1 vaccine side effects, swine flu vaccine danger